About 60 percent of the U.S. population is eligible todonate blood, however only five percent do so on a regular basis. Clarendon Health and Wellness Center’s The Cypress Center, located at 50 East Hospital St., in Manning, is hosting a blood drive today, Tuesday, Dec. 27.
All of the blood donated in South Carolina, stays in the state. In fact, S.C. is an import state, meaning there are not enough donors in the state to sustain all of the people who need blood, said Cheryl Austin, Donor Recruitment Manager, for the American Red Cross division in Columbia. Blood donated has a shelf life of 42 days, meaning that just after a month, it needs to be replaced by another donation.
The Red Cross is looking for donations of all blood types on a regular basis. Besides the Cypress Center, there are several locations within Clarendon County that are actively seeking donors. Upcoming blood drives include Jan. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wyboo Plantation, 1 Recreation Drive, and Feb. 16, from 8:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Manning High School, 2155 Paxville Hwy.
Additional blood drives are held throughout the county multiple times throughout the year at Manning United Methodist Church, Scott’s Branch High School in Summerton, Pine Grove United Methodist Church and East Clarendon High School in Turbeville. For upcoming blood drives in your area log on to www.redcrossblood.org/sc and type in your city’s zip code.
